Coin-collection apparatus



June 11, 1929.

'C. H. WHEELER CQIN COLLECTION APIARATUS Filed June 8, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet A r rg/PNE, r

June 11, c. H. WHEELER COIN COLLECTION APPARATUS Filed June 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 //v VENTO/P CL YDE h. WHEELER OM54, Arron/v5) Patented June 11, 1929.

UN' -ITFED "STATES PATENT iOFiFlCE.

CLYDE'H. WHEELER 'OF MIDLAND PARK BOROUGH, NEXV JERSEY, KSSIGNOR TO 'BELL TELEPHONE LABORATORIES, INCORPORATED, OF INEW YORK, "N. 'Y., A CORPORA- "IIO'N OF NEW YORK.

COIN-COLLECTION APPARATUS.

Application filed Janet, 1927. 'SerialINo. 197,879.

This invention relates to coin collection apparatus in which a coin is-deposited for the use of aninstrumentor for'the purchase of services or supplies from a vending device.

More particularly the invention relates to telephone toll apparatus such as that described in Patent No. 1,0l3,219 to O. F. Forsberg, patented November 5,1912, where one or more coins are deposited for the use of a telephone instrument, the deposited coins indicating to a telephone operator the fact-that they .have been deposited. This type of apparatus isincorporated in what areknown as telephone pay stations.

The object ofthe invention is to prevent fraudulent operation of coin collecting apparatus.

A common form of signalin apparatus used in connection with telephone pay stations or the like includes a coin chute in which slots are formed and along which the deposited coins travel and are guided to signal devices that are sounded or operated by the impact of the coin, or otherwise.

This invention provides an improvedtrap in a coin chute which willprevent the withdrawal of a coin'by means of a string attached thereto after it has passed'far enough through the chute to operate the signal.

Referring now to the drawings,

Fig. 1 shows a front view of the coin chute, a coin gauge for receiving coins of twodifferent sizes, a signaling device and a portion of a hopper or coin receptacle,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view along the line 22 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows,

'Fig. 3 shows a front viewofthetrap with ithe cover of the coin chute in place,

Fig.4 is a view of the trap showinghow a coin with a string attached is prevented frombeingwithdrawn.

The-location and method of use of the coin chute and its cooperating apparatus arereadily understood to those acquainted with the :art and for the purpose of clearness inithe description and illustration of the invention only such apparatus is-shown as isnecessary for a clear conception of the invention.

Referring 'now to the drawings, the coin chute, shown in 1 comprises a member 29 having two channels or slots 32 and 31 at one end which merge into acommon channel 50 at the other end, and a cover 37. Above which aportion of; projection extends, said opening beingsuflicient topermit a-string or thread to slip between the cover 37 andthe projection over intothe groove 35.

-The

projection 34 is;preferably integral with the channeledemeniber 29,.although it need'not necessarilybe so, and-it slopes from the bottom'otthechannel'32 up to a height, greater than "the depth of the channel. Near its highest point; projection 34;forms one of-the walls o'f thegroove 35, the'cover 37 cooperating withtheshoulder 36 to :form the other wall of the 1 groove.

Theinvention is not. limited to the specific embodiment shown herein but itmay' assume other forms: as well. Forexample, the cover 37 may be made thicker than-shown with the portion just above projection 34 hollowed to allow the projection to extend'to the required height.

In Fig. '3 the cover 37 is shown in posi- .tion overzportions of the trap. The slots 31, .32and'50 are shown by dotted lines asin Fig. 1.

'34, into slot 50and will strike thelower portion of the g0ng24 thus giving-a signal to the operator that a'coin has'been deposited.

Up to theltimeathatthe coin has struck the gong 2d theattaehed string-has followedthe 'coin "along :through the channel 32. After the signal :has been given and the purpose for whieluihhasbeeninserted fulfilled, sup- POSBstlIILPthGZPBISOH who inserted the coin :attemptsito withdrawdt. Since the, coinis at this time at or near the lower portion of retraction of taut it will slide up projection 34l and into groove 35. Referring now to Fig. 4, upon further withdrawal oi the string 38 which is now in groove 35, the coin 39 is caught against. the lower portion of shoulder 36 and projection 34-. Due to the fact that projec tion 34 has a height greater than the depth of the channel 32 and that the walls of the slot 35 are straight as shown by Fig. 2, it is not possible by alternately slackening and tugging the string to throw the string out of the slot and back into the channel. It the projection 34; had a height. equal to or less than the depth of the channel it would be possible by slackening and tugging the string to throw it out of the slot into the channel and then to withdraw the coin.

lVhile, for the purpose oi illustration, the trap has been shown at the point where slots 31 and 32 merge into slot 50, it will be under stood that one or more of such traps may be placed at other portions of each of the slots 31 and 32.

Although the word string has been used in the description and claims itwill be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the prevention oi withdrawal of coins by a string only, but that it will prevent the fraudulent operation by means of: strings, cords, wires, threads or the like.

lVhile there is shown and described herein a certain form or": the invention by way of illustration, it is understood that it is not limited or confined to the precise details of construction herein described and delineated as modifications and variations may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a coin collecting device, the combina tion of a slot into which coins are placed, a signaling device projecting into said slot and adapted. to be operated by a coin in its passage over said slot, and a trap to prevent the recovery of the coin, said trap comprising an auxiliary slot adjacent the'coin slot, and a projection separating the coin slot and the auxiliary slot, the h eight of the projection being greater than the depth of the coin slot.

2. In a coin collecting device, the combination of a coin slot comprising a channeled member over which deposited coins travel and a cover therefor, a signaling device adapted to be operated by a coin in its travel over the slot, and a trap for preventing the coins comprising a groove in said channeled member adjacent said coin slot, an opening in said cover and a projection on said channeled member between said slot and said groove, said projection extend.- ing up-into the opening in said cover.

3. A coin chute for collecting coins com prising a curved coin channel through which a deposited coin travels, having a slotted opening adjacent thereto for confining a string attached to a deposited coin and having a sloped projection for guiding said string into said opening, said projection forming a portion of a wall of said channel and having a height greater than the depth of said channel. 4. A coin chute for collecting coins com prising a curved coin channel through which a deposited coin travels, having a slotted opening therein for confining a string attached to a deposited coin and a sloped projection for guiding said string into said opening, said projection forming a portion ot a Wall of said channel and extending from the inner wall of said channel to a height greater than the depth of said channel and forming one wall of said opening.

5. A coin chute for collecting coins comprising a plurality of curved coin channels through which deposited coins travel, said channels combining at their lower portions -to form one channel, a slot opening into said one channel for confining a string attached to a deposited coin and a sloped projection located at the junction point Off said channels for guiding saidstring into said slot, said projection having a height greater than the depth of said one channel.

6. A trap in a coin chute comprising a curved channel through which a coin travels to ope ate a signal, comprising a sloped projection and a slot, said projection having height greater than the depth of said channel, whereby it a string is attached to said coin for the purpose of withdrawing it after the signal has been operated, said string, on an attempt to withdraw said coin, is forced into said slot and said coin is caught by said trap.

7. In combination, a coin chute for collecting coins, comprising a curved channel through which a deposited coin travels to operate a device and a trap for preventing the withdrawal of a coin by an attached string after the operation ofsaid device, said trap comprising a sloped shoulder and a slot, said shoulder having a height greater than the depth of said channel and being sloped on one side to cause said string to slip from said channel to said slot on an attempt to with draw said coin and forming a vertical wall of said slot on the other side to prevent said string from being thrown from said slot back into said channel.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 7th day of June A. D., 1927.

CLYDE H. WHEELER. 

